Dan McDonnell

Arsenal in pole position to land Shamrock Rovers’ 16-year-old midfielder Victor Ozhianvuna Arsenal are leading the chase to sign Shamrock Rovers teenager Victor Ozhianvuna (16) with the Hoops expecting the exciting midfielder to be another seven figure export from the League of Ireland.

Roma also had Michael Noonan watched on Monday

Ozhianvuna has interest from Europe too

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Arsenal in pole position to land Shamrock Rovers’ 16-year-old midfielder Victor Ozhianvuna Arsenal are leading the chase to sign Shamrock Rovers teenager Victor Ozhianvuna (16) with the Hoops expecting the exciting midfielder to be another seven figure export from the League of Ireland.

News: Arsenal are in pole position to sign Shamrock Rovers teenager Victor Ozhianvuna (16) on a pre contract deal with the Hoops believing he can be the next seven figure export from the LOI

Ozhianvuna not able to sign for UK until Jan 2027.

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Dermot Desmond writes open letter to Shamrock Rovers fans claiming non-executive directors want Stephen Bradley replaced Shamrock Rovers co-owner Dermot Desmond has written an explosive open letter to Hoops members claiming that fan-elected non-executive directors of the Tallaght club have been “persistently” seeking to...

News: Shamrock Rovers co-owner Dermot Desmond has penned explosive letter to members which includes line that fan elected directors have 'persistently' sought to have Stephen Bradley replaced

A spokesperson for members board has denied the claim

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S9E9: James Keddy and Paul Doolin are in studio this week. Ten years apart, will they get back together? Dan talks good vibes in Drogheda. Another busy mailbag. Enjoy.

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Daniel McDonnell: Unease lingers around the prominence of Packie Bonner since his return to the FAI’s top table Packie Bonner wasn’t happy. In a corridor outside a meeting room in the Buswells Hotel, the Italia ‘90 hero summoned this reporter for a conversation.

Packie Bonner hasn't lived in Ireland for years & has made some bizarre & questionable comments since joining the FAI board - and yet it seems like his influence is growing

A piece on a comeback that has generated unease as opposed to reassurance

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I think of you often, Liam….

Daniel McDonnell: Heimir Hallgrimsson must figure out if he can fit Evan Ferguson and Finn Azaz into the same team The turning point of this Sunday night in Ballsbridge might form the basis of the questions that will be debated ahead of the games that really matter later this year.

Evan Ferguson: ‘I feel good, I feel like I’m in a good place’

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Daniel McDonnell: Heimir Hallgrimsson must figure out if he can fit Evan Ferguson and Finn Azaz into the same team The turning point of this Sunday night in Ballsbridge might form the basis of the questions that will be debated ahead of the games that really matter later this year.

Daniel McDonnell: Heimir Hallgrimsson must figure out if he can fit Evan Ferguson and Finn Azaz into the same team

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League of Ireland clubs reject FAI’s ‘poorly conceived’ centralised coaching scheme League of Ireland Premier Division clubs have told the FAI they will not be allowing their players to participate in what they describe as a ‘poorly conceived’ centralised coaching scheme which the Ab...

League of Ireland PD clubs tell FAI they will not be releasing players to participate in 'poorly conceived' centralised coaching hours plan delivered by Canham/Robinson last Thurs

Strong PCA letter outlines frustration with lack of academy funding progress

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James McClean interview – ‘It feels like the FAI haven’t got an absolute clue what they are doing’ It’s 7.15pm on a cold Tuesday night in Huddersfield when a home fan makes his way down the steps to try and get James McClean’s attention.

“Can I be brutally honest? The decisions that are being made within the FAI..I think they are making a right bollocks out of everything.”

Caught up with James McClean during the week. He’s got a few things to say about the direction of Irish football

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How Duff & Bradley seized the Irish football agenda | Shels & Rovers share spoils | Ian Harte postscript Indo Sport · Episode

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JW manages that………he should be getting a code to you soon

Daniel McDonnell: How Damien Duff and Stephen Bradley have become chief agenda-setters in Irish football It’s strange that a week which sees Damien Duff and Stephen Bradley come face to face on the sideline has resulted in radio silence.

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Patrick Hickey’s remarkable rise from Chicago to the Corrib via the Canaries Patrick Hickey is shivering as he patiently fulfils every request for a picture on a bitterly cold Galway evening, with local kids happily circling around the six-foot-six native of Chicago who has be...

Patrick Hickey quit a steady job in Chicago during the pandemic to see if he could get anywhere with ⚽️. His journey involved couch surfing & washing dishes in 🇪🇸 before an agent offered an 🇮🇪 option

Piece on unlikely story behind league’s top scorer

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Galway’s tribute to Caulfield, Sligo strife, Shels slip under radar, red mist in Derry and a baffling result in Athlone The second Friday night of the season generated plenty of talking points around the country in both divisions.

Galway’s tribute to Caulfield, Sligo strife, Shels slip under radar, red mist in Derry and a baffling result in Athlone

5 takeaways from last night in the LOI - a new Sat morning piece we will be carrying through the season

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Daniel McDonnell: After all the sweat, all Rovers were left with were tears as golden chance slips by The one line summation in the highlights packages sent around the continent will centre around Shamrock Rovers suffering penalty heartbreak in their attempt to reach the last 16 of a European competit...

Late piece from Tallaght. Shamrock Rovers sniffed blood but after all the sweat, they were only left with tears as a big chance passed by

The regret will be that Molde were there for the taking - have no doubt that a full strength team would have dealt with them

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Daniel McDonnell: Bohemians got the result, but there were no losers from this Aviva Stadium experiment This was an afternoon where the attendance figure was both a statement and a fact.

10 years ago, a total of 18k attended Week 1 in both divisions

This weekend, over 51k attended the LOI Premier Div games alone, a figure inflated by today's worthy experiment.

At a crucial time, the numbers are both a statement & a fact.

Piece from Aviva

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No deal done

Irish billionaires, US investors, multi-club and member-run models – Who owns the League of Ireland clubs Under several headings, a record-breaking League of Ireland year is expected.

Who owns every club in the League of Ireland?

A piece looking at the range of backers - from Irish billionaires to half a dozen clubs with support from North America and then the multi club and member run models (and grey area around the odd club too)

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Sixteen-year-old Michael Noonan breaks European record as Shamrock Rovers secure huge win in Norway THIS was the story of a history making club and a record-breaking player. Michael Noonan’s life will never be the same again.

Sixteen-year-old Michael Noonan breaks European record as Shamrock Rovers secure huge win in Norway

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After a winter hiatus, the Halfway Line newsletter returns this week. We've changed the release day this year so the email will be coming your way every Thursday morning.

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Molde’s Aker Stadium is one of the most picturesque venues in Europe. A quiet place but it’s rare you walk out of a press exit to this…

‘There’s nobody giving out, the world hasn’t ended’ – The League of Ireland club training in a GAA Centre of Excellence If a member of the public decided to divert off the A6 and take a spin into Derry GAA’s 48-acre Owenbeg centre of excellence last Monday, their initial impression would have been that it was business ...

‘There’s nobody giving out, the world hasn’t ended’ – The League of Ireland club training in a GAA Centre of Excellence

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The inside story of how million-pound Mason Melia made Irish football history

Mason Melia themed podcast with @molloyjoe.bsky.social for @independent.ie

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Daniel McDonnell: Tottenham move a big step for young Mason Melia, a giant leap for Irish football On a spring evening in London, a big step for a Wicklow teenager named Mason Melia will likely be remembered as a giant leap for Irish football.

Record breaking Tottenham move is a big step for Mason Melia, and a giant leap for Irish football. Piece on a gamechanging transfer and the importance of a LOI owner - Garrett Kelleher - with the means to reject offers and hold out for the best deal

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It’s quiet over here .. but Gavin Bazunu is flying to Belgium with a view to completing loan move to Standard Liege

Had options around Europe. Ajax amongst those to enquire but looks 🇧🇪 bound - connection with Liege sporting director Fergal Harkin (loan manager at Man City) a key factor

‘I can’t control what people say’ – Behind the scenes with Robbie Keane as he begins Hungary adventure It’s 10.45am on a cool Wednesday morning when Robbie Keane emerges to survey the main pitch at the Nepligeti sports complex, an impressive facility south-east of Budapest city centre.

‘I can’t control what people say’ – Behind the scenes with Robbie Keane as he begins Hungary adventure

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Irish Independent Sports news, photos, video and commentary from the Irish Independent.

Greetings from Budapest where Robbie Keane is preparing for his first home game as manager of Ferencvaros.

Spoke at his press conference earlier about the reaction to his contentious time in Israel & his broader managerial plans

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Shamrock Rovers bolster squad with signing of veteran former Celtic defender Adam Matthews Shamrock Rovers have moved to fill the void left by key winter departures by completing a deal to sign former Celtic full-back Adam Matthews.

Shamrock Rovers bolster squad with signing of veteran former Celtic defender Adam Matthews

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Daniel McDonnell: Alienating Colin Healy is an own goal for the FAI at a time when their job is to rebuild trust The problem for the FAI hierarchy in any dispute with Colin Healy is the fact that they are in dispute with Colin Healy.

www.independent.ie/sport/soccer... Daniel McDonnell: Alienating Colin Healy is an own goal for the FAI at a time when their job is to rebuild trust